At the 1st World Summit On Ethics In Sports

18 September 2014, Zurich, Switzerland

For the first time, leading decision makers from the world of sports, politics, business, academics, and NGOs converged in Zurich to define the role of sports in solving societal problems and to celebrate ethical sportsmanship.

Addressing the gathering, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, co-founder of the World Forum for Ethics in Business, said, “The tremendous energy of the youth of the world must be channelized through sports. If we replace guns with a football or a cricket bat, this would be a step towards global peace. Engaging athletes in peace-building initiatives and in community service gives them a sense of a higher purpose. Sportsmen that have served a higher cause will not succumb to depression when they are no longer playing.”

Among the highlights of the summit were a panel discussion between leading sports personalities and a number of issue-based, action-oriented workshops that were organized for in-depth debate and analysis.

Sri Sri University celebrates its 1st Convocation

3 September 2014, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India

The Art of Living’s Sri Sri University celebrated the graduation day ceremony of the pilot batch of graduates of the MBA Program 2012-2014 in Bhubaneswar, Orissa.

Addressing the distinguished invitees and students, Sri Sri said, “One of the main purposes behind setting up this university is to provide the best of the East and the West. But science, when clogged by prejudice, slows down; and spirituality, when clogged by superstition, loses its utility. We need to rid spirituality of superstition and science of prejudice.

The chief guest, Honorable Chief Minister, Odisha, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, delivering the Convocation Address, emphasized, “Over the past few years of its existence, Sri Sri University has established itself as a promising and excellent institute.”

The guest of honor was Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi, Honorable Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Odisha. He congratulated the graduating students and said, “The Sri Sri University keeps alive the ancient spirit with modern technology.”

The Convocation also featured the launch of the Post Graduate Program in Financial Markets. The University recently inaugurated its Master of Arts Program in Good Governance, the Bachelor of the Performing Arts in Odissi, as well as the Bachelor's and Master's Programs in Yoga.

Sri Sri inaugurates North American Ayurveda Conference

6 July 2014, North Carolina, United States

Sri Sri inaugurated the North American International Ayurveda and Yoga Conference at the Art of Living Ashram in Boone on 4th July 2014. It was hosted by AAPNA (Association of Ayurvedic Professional of North America) where doctors and professors from Harvard, Yale and other leading universities also participated. Many expressed that the western world has been deprived of the benefits of Ayurveda due to prejudice against eastern philosophy and sciences.

Speaking Compassion

1 July 2014, San Francisco, United States

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with Dr. James Doty, Founder Director of CCARE (Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education) in Stanford on July 1.

The Center for Compassion & Altruism Research & Education (CCARE) at Stanford University hosted a dialogue on the topic of compassion.

Honor from the California Legislature Assembly

30 June 2014, San Francisco, United States

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received a Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature Assembly on June 30, recognizing the efforts towards building a stress-free world by promoting love, peace and harmony through yoga and meditation.

The previous night, the reigning Miss Jamaica-Universe Kerrie Baylis, who has done the Art of Living Happiness Program, met Sri Sri and offered a traditional Jamaican hat in San Francisco. She is also the brand ambassador for the Shankara range of products.

On a tour of the United States of America, Sri Sri is in the Bay Area for a few days. He conducted a special Shakti Kriya and also interacted with participants of the Happiness program.

The Intersection of Capitalism and Happiness

24 June 2014, Washington DC, United States

Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), hosted Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to continue a conversation about human flourishing that began when AEI invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama. According to Sri Sri, human flourishing is based on much more than material wealth.

"Drive behind a bicycle", replied Sri Sri when asked to advise the American population, of which only one third consider themselves happy. He argued that stress shrouds happiness and that one should focus on boosting energy levels or reducing demand.

Denying the conflict between compassion and capitalism, Sri Sri applauded the values of capitalism and hard work, but also emphasized that capitalism without compassion cannot make a just society. "Whether capitalism, communism, socialism or whatever 'ism' it is," Sri Sri responded, "no 'ism' will work without humanism."

Using India as an example, Sri Sri exalted the values of pluralism, arguing that a slow, messy democracy is better than a faster dictatorship. Social media plays a great role in building a free society, but he warned against its misuse. Sri Sri discussed how spiritualizing politics can reduce governmental corruption. Sri Sri also offered his panacea on how to counter terrorism and religious extremism that is on the rise in many parts of the world. He asserted that it was all about "uniting people of all religions and sects within a religion to come to an understanding that we're all part of one universal human family.

Later in the program, Brooks summarized three lessons from the discussion: while capitalism is a beautiful blessing, humanism should come first; the secret to happiness is inside us; and one's purpose should be directed by serving others and working hard to foster common brotherhood.

Human flourishing: A conversation with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Reformers Have a Bigger Role Than Rulers

13 June 2014, Maharashtra, India

“Seva (service) to Rashtra (nation) means seva to Bhagavan (the Divine). The duty of a swayamsevak is to create Josh-Hosh and devotion to the nation,” said Sri Sri at the RSSconvocation ceremony held on June 12 at the RSS Smriti Mandir, Reshimbagh Maidan, Nagpur. Sri Sri praised the RSS for giving society, both, reformers and rulers. He said, “We are all reformers and reformers have a greater role to play as compared to the rulers.” He stressed on imbibing discipline in life. Government can be imposed from outside but discipline comes from within, he said, adding that discipline was necessary for both reformers and rulers.

Sri Sri travelled to Pune the next day where he inaugurated the new kitchen at The Art of Living Ashram in Markal. At the satsang that followed, Sri Sri urged the gathering to participate in service. He said, “There is a big transformation in the country. Now we need the same type of transformation in Maharashtra.”

You can donate blood online on www.savelifeindia.org . I congratulate all the volunteers of Goa for taking up such a noble project.”

The website - www.savelifeindia.org - hosts a database of individuals, who have expressed their willingness to donate their blood in case of emergency in the towns/cities around their place.

On another note, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that he would like an India that would be free from slums, corruption, violence and injustice. “India is torn up by religion and caste differences. I would like to have an India free from injustices, corruption, and violence, where farmers and the youth are happy,” he said.

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Use media for good

10 May 2014, India

"Journalists must uplift the society by highlighting all the good things that are happening in society,” said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the launch of ‘The First Witness’ magazine. “They (journalists) have to inspire people to take action,” shared Sri Sri, continuing, “Let us use social media, use the magazines, use media for the betterment of the society, not to abuse people.”

Dilip Cherian, a communications consultant and political campaign advisor and Major Dalbir Singh, President of Foundation for Policy & Governance and Senior Advisor (South Asia) were among the other dignitaries present.

The President of Yuva, Rajiv Ranjan, is the founder of ‘The First Witness’.

The Happiness tour of Bahrain

7 May 2014, Bahrain

An evening of music and wisdom was held on May 5 at the National Indoor Stadium in Riffa, where Sri Sri was welcomed in the traditional Arabic style. It began with the showcasing of the rich Arabic culture and traditions and was followed by Sri Sri’s words of wisdom and soulful meditation.

The next day, Sri Sri attended the Civilisations in Service to Humanity Conference at the Gulf Hotel, where he was received by His Majesty King Hamad and other dignitaries.

Later that evening, businessmen, public figures, and senior officials gathered at the Crown Plaza Hotel’s Bahrain Conference Centre to hear Sri Sri speak at the Happiness and Business seminar. Sri Sri spoke to the corporate community about the importance of business ethics, clarity of mind, and spirituality, which leads to the creation of a stress-free society.